From: Ruth I. Gordon <Druthgo>
Date: Thu, 27 Dec 2007 14:14:54 -0800

I have NOT read the book but want to comment on the comments of others. 1) When I was in school in the 1940s, only Catholics left school Wed. p.m.s at 2. For the rest of us--the majority--wasted time with dumb art and a chance for the teachers (ALL but one X-tian) to catch up on grading, etc. During class on Wednesdays, our Catholic friends gave us the blue Baltimore catechisms and we quizzed them on the questions and answers. I probably could have had a First Communion and other such stages in Catholic religious life. We Jewish kids went to Hebrew school two afternoons a week after school and to Sunday school and to Saturday services. We were very far from Orthodox.

At some stage soon after the '50s, release time in NYC schools was eliminated. As a young teacher in the mid-50s, and this in California, Wed. p.m.s--release time for the Catholics. Next year that was eliminated. I always felt I owed my classes an extra hour so in a rather mean fashion continued to teach what I was expected to teach rather than lose an hour. Those who went to catechism (and now they used a green book) had to catch up.

Yes--we knew about asbestos but didn't know what it could cause. Homes were insulated with ????glass--white glass-like threads that were blown into attics. We also knew asbestos was an element and that the much-married Tommy Manville was heir to the asbestos fortune.

As for the music groups--well, that was long after my schooling or early teaching.

Anyone else who needs checking on ancient history, may contact

Big Grandma
Received on Thu 27 Dec 2007 04:14:54 PM CST